CHIO Aachen has joined the growing list of major shows and events which have announced postponements or cancellations owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisers of the German CHIO, which was slated for May 29-June 7, released their statement following the IOC’s March 24 decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games to a date “no later than summer 2021.”
Aachen’s Frank Kemperman said it made no sense to stick to the CHIO’s original dates. “The current and future health and safety of all persons involved in the show has absolute priority for us,” he said. “Our primary goal is thus now to organise the CHIO Aachen at a later date in the year.”
On March 23, Spruce Meadows officially canceled the Spruce Meadows Summer Series, including the ‘National’ June 4-7, the ‘Continental’ June 11-14, the ‘Pan American’ June 25 – 28 and the ‘North American’ July 1 – 5.
Equestrian Events Inc. (EEI) announced cancellation of this year’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix on March 16. The events had been scheduled for April 23-26 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Three days before Kentucky’s announcement, the organisers of the Badminton Horse Trials said it was no longer possible to stage the five star event scheduled for May 6-10, 2020.